Spencer pointed out that Missouri law already requires
slower moving vehicles to move to the right for faster moving vehicles.

“This law applies to both cars and trucks, but there is
little to no signage throughout the state informing drivers,” he said.

“Drivers will tend to comply with policies and procedures
they know are in effect. Without appropriate signage, how in the world could
any lawmaker think drivers are going to instinctively know about state policy?”

The association, representing more than 6,000 Missouri-based
truck drivers, has encouraged its members to voice their opinion to lawmakers
about the lane ban.

A provision recently added to the bill would permit police
to pull over drivers for not wearing
their seat belts. Violators would be
fined $10, the same amount as current state law.

Dolan, R-Lake Saint Louis, said a primary seat-belt law was
important for safety and could bring the state millions of dollars in federal
incentive money.

State law now allows
motorists to be ticketed for failure to buckle up only after being stopped for
another traffic violation.

“Seat belts will pass this year, or many (other) bills will
die,” Dolan recently told his fellow lawmakers.

“It’s just something that we have to do.”

While supporters of a primary seat-belt law sometimes point
to federal money the state would lose for failing to scrap its secondary law,
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says no direct grant funds
are doled out for having a primary law.

However, there could
be a financial perk for Missouri to strengthen its law.

Jeffrey Runge, head
of the NHTSA, said recently the federal government plans to offer a $17
million, one-time incentive to each state that passes a primary law.

Missouri is one of 28
states without the stricter provision. Twenty-one states allow police to
pull over drivers solely for not wearing their seat belts. New Hampshire is the
only state without a mandatory seat-belt law.